If you’ve been put off by what Game Pass costs right now, new Xbox CEO Asha Sharma is apparently already thinking about you.
A report published this week says Sharma, who took over from Phil Spencer in February, is exploring ways to make Game Pass more accessible to a broader audience. That includes looking at lower-priced subscription tiers and potentially an ad-supported option that could let you access games at a reduced cost, or possibly even for free, in exchange for watching ads.
It’s worth remembering that Game Pass Ultimate jumped 50 percent to $30 a month back in October 2025. For cloud gamers specifically, that stings. Game Pass Ultimate is still the only way to get 1440p streaming quality, and that price makes it a harder ask than it used to be.
A Netflix Bundle Could Be in the Mix
The same report includes something that’s harder to ignore. Netflix co-CEO Greg Peters confirmed he and Sharma have already been talking. The two have, in his words, “kicked around ideas” about how Netflix and Xbox could work together on subscription bundles.
Nothing is confirmed. Peters was careful about that. He said the deal would have to work for both consumers and both companies. Peters added that Microsoft is still figuring out how to make the Game Pass bundle work on their end. But he also said he “wouldn’t eliminate any possibilities,” which is about as open a door as you’re going to get from a co-CEO in a published interview.
For context, Netflix isn’t new to gaming partnerships. The company already has a deal with Take-Two that gives subscribers access to Rockstar’s mobile Grand Theft Auto titles. They have appetite for this kind of arrangement. Whether Xbox makes sense as the next one is the open question.
For Cloud Gamers the Pricing Question Is Personal
A cheaper Game Pass tier tier is the more immediately relevant piece here. At $30 a month, Ultimate is the only way to get 1440p cloud streaming quality. That price has pushed some people toward the lower tiers or off the service entirely. If Sharma introduces a new pricing structure that brings that premium cloud experience within easier reach. That’s a real change for anyone who games in the cloud regularly.
A Netflix bundle, if it ever happens, is more of a long-term story. The practical value would depend entirely on how it’s structured. A discount that combines what you’re already paying for both services separately would be genuinely useful. A bundle that costs more for the convenience of one bill would not.
There’s no timeline on any of this. Sharma has been in the role for about less than two months and these conversations are clearly early. But the direction is worth watching, especially with cloud gaming access tied directly to how Game Pass is priced.
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